Means for turning cigarettes and like shaped articles when packing same



Apnl 14, 1931. P. GOTTSCHALK 1,800,290

MEANS FOR TURNING CIGARETTES AND LIKE SHAPED ARTICLES WHEN PACKNG SAME Flled July 5 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet` l P. GOTTSCHALK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1929 pri'l 14, 1931.

MEANS FOR TURNING cIGARETTEs AND LIKE' SHAPED ARTICLES wHEN PACKING sANE Patented Apr. 14, 1931 Unirse srarss PATssr @Fries PAUL GOTISC-IALK, OF DRESDEN, GERMNY, ASSIGNOR TO UNTED CIGARETTE MA- CHNE COMPANY AKTENGESEL-LSCHAFT, OF DRESDEN, GERMANY MEANS FOR TURNING CGKETTESl AND LKE SHAPED ARTICLES WHEN rackrive` SAME Application led July 5, 1929, Serial No. 376,068, and in Germany November i4, 1928.

In automatic cigarette packing machines it is nece-ssary to arrange the cigarettes, or at least the top layer, in such a manner that the printed lettering on the cigarette is directed upwards. For this purpose, it has already been proposed to have the seam of the cigarette engage with a finger', a catch or the like, and then to employ the catch directly for turning the wrongly placed cigarettes, or for releasing mechanism which in its turn effects the turning of the wronglv placedv cigarettes. y

In such apparatus difficulties arise in finding asuitable design for the catch. ln particular it becomes necessary for the catch to be held in Contact with the cigarette for some time before it actually engages with the seam. Moreover, the catch drags on the cigarette paper, and if it bears too firmly on the paper it may happen that the latter will be ripped off and the cigarette completely ruined. On the other hand, if the catch is made to engage the cigarette with too light a pressure, there is a risk that it will ride over the'seam, as the front surface of the seam is very small, generally Anot higher than 0,05 mm. rl`he present invention overcomes'this drawback by having two springs placed under the catch. At the commencement of the operation, that is to say immediately the catch rests on the cigarette, it is held in position very lightly, so that it merely slides on the latter. lmmediately before it comes into contact with the seam, however, it is held down under greater pressure, resulting in a reliable grip on'the seam.

In order to prevent the catch from damaging the seam, at the end of its forward mo tion, when it slides over the Yupper edge of the seam, it is advisable to provide a further stop lever. or lthe like preferably directly op erated by the control of the turning device, which lever positively disengages from the cigarette at the end of the forward motion.

The appended drawing shows diagrammatically by way of example, two forms of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a side view of an apparatus for straightening cigarettes to form the top layer.

the catchV Fig. 2 is a portionof Fig. l enlarged to show another position of the catch in oper ation.

Figs. 3 to 5 show diagrammatically side views, in three different working positions, .of a modified form of the apparatus, in which, in accordance with the invention, means are provided by which the catch at the end of its forward motion is positively disengaged from the cigarette seam.

' ln the drawings a represents the cigarette to be fed to the packing machine, which cigarettes, as usual lie separately onthe links o of a conveyor chain. At the point where the cigarettes engages with the catch or the finger which turns the wrongly placed cigarettes,a holding guide or the like is arranged as shown in Figs. l and 2. This guide lies on top of the cigarette and holds it down. However, as the cigarettes are of'various thicknesses and it is also necessary, if the finger is to work properly, that the seam should be presented to it always at the same height, below the guide c there is disposed a springd which, as shown in the drawing, 'projects a little out of the plane in which the cigarettes slide along and'off. the rail e `on which the cigarettes are fed forward by the chain links b, and which railpresses the cigarettes passing under the guide c, upwards against the said guide, in an elastic manner.

The linger or the catch consists of two springs and g. To the lower spring g is fixed the knife edge 7L. The spring g is weak, the spring f is stronger. The spring f is provided with a stop screw, or other stop z' which is preferably adjustable, while a further spring 7c engages the'spring f through an adjusting screw m, by which the effective strengthof thespring y can be adjusted. Furthermore, on the frame of the machine there is a spring n the lower free end of which slides over the cigarette asit'arrives. The object of this spring is to adjust such cigarettes as do not lie at a right angle to their line of movement.

The springs 7 and g are connected to each other. at one end, and are mounted on a vertically disposed spring o and jointly pivoted,

the spring o in turn being supported on the frame of the machine and pivoted on the spindle p. A stop screw g, also carried by the frame serves the purpose of securing the springs f and g in the position of rest, the spring f extending at the rear beyond the pivot p.

The operation is as follows:

The cigarettes are fed forward bythe conveyor chain ZJ, sliding along on the rails e. rIhose cigarettes which are shown at the eX- treme left in the drawing, and are disposed straightened directly they pass under the springs n so that they lie with their longest axis in a horizontal direction. The spring n holds the cigarette in this position until, on being conveyed further on, the spring d placed under it pressesit upwards against :the guide c. lf new the cigarette lies in the correct position, that is to say with the printed .lettering` pointing upwards, the sharpv edge 7L will rest on the cigarette as the latter travels, and it can then slide smootha'f ly over it, with the result that the cigarette passes to the packing machine.

If on the other hand, as shown in the drawing, the cigarette lies with its seam pointing upwards, the catch under the action of the thin spring g first rests on the cigarette at a point some distance in front of the seam. As the cigarette travels further it now slides over the catch; the spring g naturally is thereby raised, the stop i' being adjusted in such a manner that the spring lg engages it immediately the sharp edge arrives right in front of the front edge of the seam. Now both the weak spring g and the strong spring f press on the catch. The catch is therefore 'held down, with the result that it engages with the front edge of theY seam. As the cigarette. travels further, it is therefore` carried along with it and the whole catch device consisting of the parts f, g., 7c, and o pivots round the spindle 29, another oscillating mo` tion of the spring V7 round its fulcrum s taking place at the same time. As the part pivots round the spindle ol the contact springs t and u engage with each other. These two springs are electrically insulated from each other, for example, by means of insulating material u and form part of an electric circuit. l/Vhenthey are/in contact, the circuit ,is closed, and in the know-n manner la device which turns the cigarette, for eX- ample a stop w can at the proper moment be brought into the path of the conveying device which then turns the cigarette over, also in the usual manner. Obviously the device for turning over the cigarettes can be Yof any suitable form. For example, the catch may be employed to actuate the catch for operating a mechanical or pneumatic or other relay. The stop g serves the purpose of preventing the catch or the. nger from de-V means by which the catch at the end of its forward travel is positively disengaged from the seam of the cigarette. A form of such a device is shown in Figs. 3 5. ln these figf ures, as in the form previously described, a obhquely to the line of their movement, are

represents theV cigarettes lying separately on the links of a conveyor, in the present instance in the forni of an endless chain, which cigarettes move along on a guide b1. Of the three successive cigarettes shown in the drawing, the two outer ones marked al aie in the present case in the correct position, that is to say, in the position where the printed lettering is directed upwards, while the centre cigarette marked a is wrongly turned, so that the printed lettering points downward and the seam upwards. Over the cigarettes, just as in the form first described, there is a cat-cli or a lever f1, which preferably consists of a thin spring plate and has at its front end a sharp edge or a'hcolr f2. The catch f1 is pivoted round the fulcrum S1 at the lower end of a spring or blade 01, the upper end of which is held by a clamp p1 fixed to a stationarypart ful and pivotable around a spindle p. Engaging t-he side of the blade or spring 01, which faces the front end of the catch f1, is the free lower end of a leaf spring t1 fixed to the part el, by which end the spring 01 is normally, as 4shownfin Fig. 3, held in a vertical position. Near the lower end of the spring 01 is a contact k1 facing a contact plate u2 .arranged at the. lower end of a contact spring al.. The upper end of the contact spring u1 is fixed to the part g and insulated from it. The contact spring u1 is connected through a conductor w1 to one pole of an electric battery B, the other pole of which is connected across an electro-magnet 'E through a lead with the part g consisting of electrically conducting mate-rial. The part G is electrically connected to the spring 01 with the result that when the parts f1 and 01 are in the position shown in Fig. .3 the circuit is only broken at the. contacts k1 and u2. The armature e is mounted on an angle leve-r al which pivots around a spindle s2. This lever carries an adjustable stop screw g1 which, like the stop screw Q- in the form represented in Figs. l and 2 lies over the rear end of the catch f1.

As inthe case of the catch f in the form of the invention first described, the catch f1 slides over and away from the cigarettes al that lie on the links of the conveying chain in the correct position i. e., with the printed lettering pointing upwards. However, im-

mediately a wrongly positioned cigarette a l? l'OJ arrives at the front end kf2 lof the catch f1 the catch engages with the seam of the cigarette and is carried along with the latter. Consequently the spring 0l turns on its point of suspension p, Fig; Il, against the action ,of the leaf spring t1 unt-il finally the contact k1 meets the contact a2 and the circuit of the battery B' is closed. The closing ot this circuit, through the electro-magnet E, or anotherl electro-magnet, not shown in the drawing, causes an apparatus otknown form to be set in operation, w ich turns the wrongly positioned cigarette into the Vcorrect position. At the same time, through the energizing of the electro-magnetFl, the angle lever el is turned round the spindle s2,.with the result that the stop screw g1 is caused to lie on the rear end of the catch f1 and the catch is turned. round the spindle 81 in such a manner that the hook f2 is positively dis-enga ed from the seam ot the cigarette Fig. 5. minediately this occurs the catch f1 is returned to the position shown in Fig. 8 by the leatl spring t1 in which position the circuit is broken. f

T he device shown in Figs. 3 5, for the purpose of positively raising the catch at the end of its forward travel, may be employed in conjunction with the arrangements represented in Figs. l and 2. To this end all that is necessaryis to arrange the stop screw g ot Figs. l and 2, on a movably mounted lever or the like, which, by means ot an electromagnet or the like introduced in the circuit of the turning apparatus, is operated insucli a way that on mutual contact of the two contact springs t and u, that is to say, when the circuit is closed, the stop screw g moves downwards and the catch f turns round the tulcrum, whereby the catch is positively disengaged trom the seam ot the cigarette.

claim:

l. A device for actuating a turning apparatus for cigarettes and similar elongated articles to form a correctly-positioned top layer when packing, comprising means adapted to engage the cigarettes and with the seam of the cigarette to be correctly positioned g means for pressing said means against the cigarette under slight pressure while resting on the cigarette in front of the seam; and further means 'for holding the first-named means against the cigarette under a stronger pressure immediately that it comes near the seam.

2. A device for actuating a turning apparatus :tor cigarettes and similar elongated articles to form a correctly-positioned top layer when packing, comprising an edge adapted to engage the cigarettes and the seam ot the cigarette to be correctly positioned means for pressing the edge against the cigarette under slight pressure while resting on the cigarette in front ot the seam; and further means for holding the edge against the cigarette under a stronger pressure immediately ticles to form a correctly-positioned top layer when packing, comprising an edge adaptedto engage the cigarettes and the seamot the cigarette to be correctly positioned; a spring for pressing the edge against the cigarette under slight pressure while resting on the cigarette in front ot the seam; and a more powerful spring for holding the edge against the cigarette under a stronger pressure immediately that the edge-is adjacent the seam to thereby turn the cigarette into the correct position.y n Y t. A device for actuating a turning apparatus for cigarettes and similar elongated articles to form a correctly-positioned top layer when packing, comprising an edge adapted to engage the cigarettes and the seam ot the cigarette to be correctly positioned; a spring-tor pressing the edge against the cigarette under slight pressure while resting on the cigarette in 'front of the seam; a more powerful spring tor holding the edge against the cigarette under a stronger pressure immediately that the edge is adjacent the seam. to thereby turn the cigarette into, the correct position, said springs being connected at one end; and a stop to which one yof the springs is connected which at a given moment permits the operation of both springs.

5. A device for actuating a turning apparatus for cigarettesand similar elongated articles to forni a correctly-positioned top layer when packing, comprising an edge adapted to engage the cigarettes and the seam of the cigarette to be s correctly positioned; a spring for pressing the edge against the cigarette .under` slight pressure while resting on the cigarette in front ot' the seam; a more powerful spring for holding the edge against the cigarette under a stronger pressure immediately that the edge is adj acentthe seam to thereby turn the cigarette into the correct position, saidl springs being connected at one end; and an adjustable stop to which one Aoi` the springs is connected which at a given moment permits the operation of both springs.

6. A device :tor actuating a turning apparatus for cigarettes and vsimilar elongated articles to form a correctly-positioned top layer when packing, comprising a trame; a guide suspended from the frame; and a'inger consisting of two springs and an edge pivotally suspended in the guide, one' of said springs pressing the edge against the cigarette under `slight pressure while resting thereon in front of the seam and the other spring holding the edge against the cigarette under a stronger pressure immediately that the edge is adjacent the seam to thereby turn the cigarette into the correct position..

7T. A device for actuating a turning apparatus for cigarettes and similar elongated articles to, form a correctly-positioned top layer when packing, comprising a frame; a guide vertically suspended as a pendulum in the frame; a conveyor chain for the cigarettes adapted to be moved horizontally under the guide; and a finger consisting of tWo springs and an edge pivotally suspended in the guide around a spindle, one of sai-d springs pressing the edge against the cigarette under slight pressure While resting thereon in front of the seam and the other spring holding the edge against the cigarette under a stronger pressure immediately that the edge is adjacent the seam to thereby turn the cigarette into the correct position. Y

8. A device for actuating .a turning apparatus for cigarettes and similar elongated articles to form a correctly-positioned top layer when packing, comprising a frame; a

, guide vertically suspended as a pendulum in the frame; a conveyor chain for the cigarettes adapted to be moved-horizontally under the guide; a linger consisting of two springs and an edge pivotally suspended in the guide around a spindle, vone of said springs pressing the edge against the cigarette under slight pressure While resting thereon infront of the seam and the other spring holding the edge against the cigarette under a stronger pressure immediately that the edge is adjacent the seam to thereby turn the cigarette into the correct position; and an adjustable stop mounted on the frame for limiting the pivotal movement of the finger in the guide.

9.` A device for actuating a turning apparatus for cigarettes and similar elongated arlticles to form a correctly-positioned top layerwhen packing, comprising a frame; a `guide vertically suspended as a pendulum in the frame; a conveyor chain for the cigarettes adapted to he moved horizontally under the guide; a finger consisting of tvvo springs and an edge pivotally suspended in the guide around a spindle, one of said springs pressing the edge against the cigarette under slight pressure While resting thereon in front ofthe seam and the other spring holding the edge against the cigarette under a stronger pressure immediately that the edge is adjacent the seam to thereby turn the-cigarette into the co-rrect position; and

a spring mounted on the frame for turning or holding the cigarette in a horizontal position to be more readily acted on bythe edge of the finger When the cigarette reaches it;

10. A device for actuating a'turningapparatus for cigarettes and similar elongated articles to form a correctly-positioned top layer When packing, comprising a frame; a guide verticallyv suspended asa pendulum in the. frame; a conveyor chain for the cigarettes. adapted to he moved horizontally undcr the guide; a finger consisting-of two taooeo springs and an edge pivotally suspended in the guide around a spindle, one of said springs pressing the edge against the cigarette under slight pressure Yvvhile resting thereon in front of the seam and the other spring holding the edge against the cigarette under a stronger lpressure immediately that the edge is adjacent the seam to thereby turn the cigarette into the correctVpositi-on; and a holding guide mounted on the frame arranged adjacent the finger and adapted to aid in .a uniform engagement of the seam of the cigarette bythe edge of the finger.

V ll. A device for actuating-a `turning apparatus for cigarettes and similar elongated articles to form a correctly-positioned top layer when packing, comprising a frame; a guide vertically suspended as a pendulum in the frame; a conveyor chain for the cigarettes adapted to be moved horizontally under the guide; a finger consisting of tvvo spi-ings and an edge pivotally suspended in the guide around a spindle, one of said springs pressing the edge against the cigarette under slight pressure While resting thereon in front of the seam and the other spring holding the edge againstv the cigarette under a stronger pressure immediately that the edge is adjacent the seam to thereby turn the cigarette into the correct position; aholding guide mounted on the frame arranged adjacent the finger and adapted to aid in 'a uniform engagement of the seam of the cigarette by the edge of the linger; and a spring arranged adjacent the conveyor and under the holding guide to press the cigarettes against the holding guide. Y

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

PAUL GOTTSCHALK. 

